A rule to prevent legal sports betting operators from having naming rights to North Carolina sports venues was removed from the second rules proposal on Wednesday.
The North Carolina Lottery Commission’s sports betting committee approved that change and several other staff recommendations following public comments accepted in November.
Another change allows marketing affiliates to work with sports betting operators as long as they don’t accept revenue from the bets made by the players.
Comments from sports betting stakeholders were especially helpful in amending the latest rules proposal, the committee said.
The amended version of the second set of proposed rules still needs commission approval. The next commission meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13, although no agenda has been announced.
This latest approval brings North Carolina sports betting closer to online and in-person sports wagering, which won’t begin until at least March 2024. No “go live” date was discussed on Wednesday.
Partnerships underway
Previously, the rule stated that sports betting operators couldn't have their name on a sports facility or racetrack, or any physical location within the venue, including seating locations, golf holes, luxury boxes, and other areas.
The decision to change the naming rights rule in North Carolina comes just a day after PENN Entertainment announced ESPN BET's partnership with Quail Hollow Club, home of the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship.
The Charlotte Hornets already have a deal to include bet365 signage around the court and arena at the Spectrum Center.
According to the sports betting law passed in June, eight North Carolina sports venues can house retail sportsbooks with as many as 12 online operators allowed in the Tar Heel State.
Application update
North Carolina’s application process for operators, suppliers, and providers began Friday, and the committee said Wednesday that there were already 43 requests for applications.
Eleven of those have already come from operators, which regulators urge to apply by Dec. 27 to be considered for the Tar Heel State’s launch date.
North Carolina has received 24 supplier license requests and eight from service providers.
